New York Mets win 3-2 against Pittsburgh Pirates as R.A. Dickey strikes out 11 - MLB Update
R.A. Dickey strikes out 11 and takes the New York Mets to a 3-2 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on May 22, 2012 in second game of the three match series.
The Pirates had to wait for five innings to record their first run. Dickey employed his knucklers and kept the batters struggling for hits.
In a low scoring game, late innings proved decisive. Second half of the game characterised a scenario where either side had equal chance of winning.
The Mets were lucky that their hitters added runs at right moment of the game.
Later part of the innings saw a 1-1 tie before right fielder Lucas Duda singled and took the Mets to a one run lead.
The Mets were helped by a fielding error afterwards. As a result they managed to post two runs in the eighth inning.
Fielding error by Pedro Alvarez ended up being disaster for the Pirates as only that run pushed the Mets ahead of them later.
Due to the same error, one run the Pirates scored in reply proved a dead-rubber one.
The Pirates had serious trouble against the knuckler. Despite the preparations being made, their misery was not hidden. Every batter they sent on plate was made clueless by Dickey.
Discussing the role Dickey played in victory, the Mets’ catcher Mike Nickeas was of the view that since he was able to cover either side of the strike-zone, batters’ struggle had mounted. By mastering the skill and exhibiting it under all circumstances,
he can be a serious threat for opponents, he stated.
"He was working both sides," Mike Nickeas said. "The one he was able to repeat tonight and get a lot of swings and misses on was that one that is kind of flat and kind of explodes up at the end. That's tough to catch. ... If he can command that one, he's
going to get a lot of strikeouts."
Third baseman David Wright witnessed a decline in batting average after going scoreless on Tuesday.
The Mets’ progress in the season has slowed over the last week. Their position on the Division table has dropped.
Weak rotation remains an area of concern for the manager. Terry Collins will look for consistency after this victory and make sure pitchers live up to their roles.
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